NATURAL HISTORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1640, 28 April 1883, Page 27

NATURAL HISTORY.

Bt Uxole David.

KOTES FOR THE YOUNG.-THE FOX.

I will now pass on to another subdivision of the great genus Canis. The fox resembles the dog in dental and bony structure, but the long and sharp-pointed muzzle, the round head, the erect and triangular ears, the long body, short limbs', and long, thick, and bushy tail— called the brush— constitute the chief differences between these two subdivisions. There is one remarkable distinction between the dog and the fox which is worthy of mention here— that is, in the oaae of the former, when the eye is exposed to intense light, the iris always contracts round the pupil in the form of a circle, while in the fox the iris alway* contracts in the form of the fiat side of a tat-ting-needle. The objeot of this provision you will readily see is to exclude the light in a much greater degree than would be possible with the structure of a circular pupil, and it is on that account only found in those nocturnal animals that are able to see with very little light. Such animals are unable to bear the full blaze of day, whioh pains their eyes, and compels them to contract the iris to such an extent that their vision becomes imperfect, and this gives them much of that sneaking, cunning, and suspicious look for which the fox is proverbial. When the fox then appears to ba most cunning he is in reality most shortsighted — for, shade himself as much as possible from the light, he hides in burrows during the day, and prowls about at night in full possession of his eyesight.

THE COMMON FOX.

The ground colour of the common fox is mostly of a dull reddish fawn, of various degrees of intensity, with a strong tendency to assume a blaokish tinge along the back and across the shoulders, the whole of the under surface of the body, the insides of the limbs, the upper lip, and the tip of the tail being most commonly of a pure white. There is much variety in the marking, but in general the outline which I have given is preserved. The common fox inhabits Europe ? Asia, and Af rioa. The female breeds in April, and produces from five to eight at a birth. She prepares a nest at the bottom of her burrow, and lines it with grass, leaves, and moss. " She employs every artifice to conceal her offspring ; Bhe defends them with indomitable courage; and if she suspects that her retreat iB discovered, she carries them away oue by one to what Bhe regards as a place of safety." A female fox has been known to carry a cub in her mouth during a chase of seven miles, and only to drop it when she was compelled to do so from want of breath, to continue her flight, and retain her hold. A fox has been known to make her nest in a hole in a tree 20 feet from the ground, and to which she had to climb the whole distance without the assistance of a branch. The oubs are very playful, and, like puppies, they are very fona of chas* ing their tails. If captured, even at the earliest age, and brought up with every kindness, the young fox retains its suspicious character. It may certainly Bhow some familiarity with the person who attends it and supplies it with food, but it never manifests the attachment or the gratitude of the dog. On the approach of strangers it will always endeavour to conceal itself, or should they attempt to touch it, repel their advances with a bite. A full-grown fox cannot be tamed. It exhibits the utmost impatience of restraint, tries every means to regain its freedom, and if it cannot succeed pines, and soon dies.

Next to the dog, foxes have the greatest number of intonations of the voice ; they yelp, bark, and scream with a sound resembling that of a peacock ; they cry in hunting, and murmur when pleased j they lie down twisted in a curve, sleep profoundly, and when watching birds stretch out the hind legs behind them. The senses of foxes are very acute, especially those of hearing- and of smell. Their limbs are exceedingly pliant, and their tail is so flexible that they can roll it round their nose. They are sly, cautious, very cunning and patient, cleanly and retired in their habits. Their resources of instinct to escape detection by an enemy are numerous — never trusting to their courage until they are exhausted, and theu defending themselves to the last gasp against dogs, but sometimes deceiving mankind by " playing 'possum," or simulating death ; depositing their prey underground and in diffe-

rent places, and not attacking poultry under any oirenmstances whilst chained. As the dusk of evening advances, the fox generally steals from his burrow with noiseless steps to prowl about for prey. With senses of smell and hearing extremely acute, he listens and sniffs tho wind. Alive to every sound and odour, he creeps along in a crouching attitude, with gleaming eye. Stealthy in all his movements, ho surprises the rabbit near its burrow, the hare on her form, and tho poultry on theip perch. He kills all be can, and buries what) he cannpt eat in the earth for. future wants. Field-mice, frogs, weasels, aud even insects are devoured in times of scarcity. The fox is proverbially fond of grapes, and consequent!* visits the vineyards of the Continent. Hw speed and powers of endurance have recommended him in Britain to the lovers of tfc« ohase, for whose gratiication the bread is preserved.

Libertyto the fex is dearer than life or limb* If his leg is caught in a trap, he will sometiraw free himßelf by biting off the limb. A oorrMpondent of Mr Bell, for example, wrote : — " I remember once, when out hunting, the hounds found a fox who did not leave the cover, but kept running from one part of it to another Just as a hound was about to seize him ha jumped over the dog, and thus saved himself. This tedious sport was kept up for a long time, till Reynard, being thoroughly tired of bo many leaps and so many enemies, at last fell a prey to them. The huntsman, on taking him up, found that he had lost one of his forelegs. The cover being entirely furze, And not large, T oould see on all sides of him during tho hunt, and .was much pleased with th« many elegant and quick leaps which the poov three-legged fox made to save himself from destruction."

Foxes have been known \o run before tka hounds 50 miles at a stretch. When h»r4 pressed, the animals neither lose their self-pos-BeHsion nor their courage : they resort to eYorjp expedient that cunning can dictate to baffle the hounds, or elude their search, and. If all fail, the fox dies, defending himself to th» lwrt, and without uttering a cry.

(To be continued.)